The stick and ball sports have their All-Star games but, it is usually more of a social event instead of a hard fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other

The stick-and-ball sports have their All-Star games but they are usually more a social event than a hard-fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other with the winner leaving with at least a million dollars in their pocket.

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after a late surge took him to the win Saturday night.

Last week's white knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, South Carolina. Darlington

Last week's white-knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, SC.

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm with one-eighth-inch hail that halted the event with 63 laps to go.

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads. The first portion of the event belonged

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action, but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads.

CHARLOTTE, NC -

My dad used to say that when opportunity knocks, make sure you answer. That knock came this week for young Regan Smith as he fills in for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Charlotte.

Earnhardt made the earthshattering announcement this morning at Charlotte Motor Speedway that he will be removing himself from the seat of his Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet after being diagnosed with a concussion.

"We had a test at Kansas about five weeks ago, and we blew a right front tire going into Turn 1," said Earnhardt on where his injuries began. "You know your body, and you know how your mind works, and I knew something was just not quite right."

Made out of the same mold as his rugged father, Earnhardt tried to tough it out through the headaches associated with a concussion but, knew he had not fully healed after crashing again last week in Talladega.

"I was hit in the left rear quarter panel," continued Earnhardt of his accident last week. "It was sort of an odd kind of a collision where the car spun around really quick and just sort of disoriented me, and I knew that I had sort of regressed and had a bit of a setback."

Earnhardt knew he needed to seek help and contacted a Neurosurgeon, Dr. Jerry Petty. The doctor made the decision to have Earnhardt take a few weeks off to heal.

"He had no amnesia on either side of either of the incidents," said Dr. Petty on Jr's evaluation. "We want him to have four or five days after he has no headache and if that goes well, we'll probably clear him to race."

As Earnhardt takes some time to heal, Regan Smith will get the opportunity of a lifetime and fill his seat inside the No. 88 car.

"We've been talking about running him in the Nationwide car for a championship," said team owner Rick Hendrick on choosing Smith. "He's a good driver, and again, Dale likes him, and we're familiar with him."

Regan became available when Kurt Busch replaced him behind the wheel of the No.78 at Furniture Row Racing. He had planned on driving the No. 51 for Phoenix Racing but, when this opportunity came open, he knew he could not pass it up.

"I am very fortunate that I am the guy they chose to call," said Smith of his temporary ride. "I just want to go out and make the most of it. Run all 500 miles and see where we are at when it is all said and done."

Earnhardt said that he would not be at the track this week because he thought that it would be a distraction for the team but, that doesn't mean we won't see him again before the end of the year.

"I would love to race this weekend," said Earnhardt when asked when he would be back. "The basis of this whole deal is that I've had two concussions in the last four to five weeks and you can't layer concussions. It gets extremely dangerous."

So, with Earnhardt recovering, Smith has the opportunity to show what he can do in a quality ride. It is undoubtedly the best ride that he has had in his career and how he responds will certainly shape his future in the sport. Most in the garage wish him good luck.

The stick and ball sports have their All-Star games but, it is usually more of a social event instead of a hard fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other

The stick-and-ball sports have their All-Star games but they are usually more a social event than a hard-fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other with the winner leaving with at least a million dollars in their pocket.

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after a late surge took him to the win Saturday night.

Last week's white knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, South Carolina. Darlington

Last week's white-knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, SC.

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm with one-eighth-inch hail that halted the event with 63 laps to go.

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads. The first portion of the event belonged

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action, but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads.

Growing up, Clint Bowyer cut his teeth driving the short track circuit of the Midwest. Now that he is a big time Sprint Cup driver, he is hoping that his short track experience puts him back in the winner's

Growing up, Clint Bowyer cut his teeth driving the short track circuit of the Midwest. Now that he is a big time Sprint Cup driver, he is hoping that his short track experience puts him back in the winner's circle this week in Richmond.

When Matt Kenseth made the unprecedented move from his long time home at Roush/Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, many expected him to remain a championship threat; just not this soon. Capturing his second

When Matt Kenseth made the unprecedented move from his longtime home at Roush/Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, many expected him to remain a championship threat; just not this soon.

Richard Petty once told me that bad luck comes in cycles. He said that you just continue to work hard and one day it will turn back around your way. That seems to be the case for the resurgent Kyle Busch

Richard Petty once told me that bad luck comes in cycles. He said that you just continue to work hard and one day it will turn back around your way. That seems to be the case for the resurgent Kyle Busch as he heads to Kansas this weekend.

The two best cars battled it out under the lights at Texas Motorspeedway Saturday night with Martin Truex falling short in the final laps to Kyle Busch for the win. The win completed a weekend sweep for

The two best cars battled it out under the lights at Texas Motorspeedway Saturday night, with Martin Truex falling short in the final laps to Kyle Busch for the win.